Ford Plants Steer Toward `90 Models

June 27, 1989|By Jim Mateja, Auto writer.

Ford Motor Co. will idle its Chicago and Atlanta assembly plants that build the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable for an extra week in July because dealers believe there will be greater demand for the 1990 models than for end- of-the-year 1989 cars.

Dealers are counting on more activity in 1990, because Ford will begin offering air bag restraint systems as an option.

The performance version Taurus SHO also will make antilock brakes standard for 1990. The 1989 SHO doesn`t offer antilock brakes.

In addition to a regularly scheduled vacation shutdown of the plants the first two weeks of July, Ford will keep them closed the week of July 17.

The Chicago plant on Torrance Avenue has about 2,300 hourly employees on two shifts, and the Atlanta plant has about 2,150 hourly employees on two shifts.

The company emphasized that the added week`s closing wasn`t the result of poor sales or rising inventories. Taurus is Ford`s best-selling car; at the end of May, dealer supplies stood at 54 days, while Sable was at 59 days. An inventory of 60 to 65 days is considered normal.

Sources said dealers have been cutting back on orders for 1989 models, focusing on 1990 in anticipation of demand for the optional air bags. At the same time, however, there reportedly are shortages of air bag components.

Production of the 1990 models will begin Aug. 21 at Atlanta and Sept. 5 in Chicago.

In addition to the Taurus and Sable, Ford will offer air bags in the Ford Mustang, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car and Mark VII and Merkur Scorpio.